Pat Rollins: Snoopy and fresh snow a good hunting match

fosters.com

Writer

Posted Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Posted Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:15 AM

I was sitting at the table going over some material for a possible deer hunt for next fall when I heard a knock at the front door. I looked out the front window at my yard covered in fresh snow and there in the driveway was Pete’s truck. As soon as I answered the door I knew he was here to invite me along on a morning rabbit hunt.

“Bet you don’t know where I’m going?” he asked with a big grin.

“You’re dressed like Elmer Fudd,” I replied with a chuckle. “I thought of you when I got up and saw that fresh snow, but I didn’t figure you’d be dropping by to get me before the storm even ended!”

I invited him in for coffee and while we sat at the table we figured out exactly where we were going hunt. At first my friend suggested that we head north just south of the White Mountains to an old clear cut he’s hunted in the past. I suggested that we stay close to home and try our luck around a huge dry swamp not five miles from my home.

“I saw a ton of sign in there while I was deer hunting,” I revealed. “I’m sure your beagle can track a hare or two in there.”

“I’m always up for trying a new spot,” he said. “And with the price of gas, I like your idea a whole lot better.”

While Pete finished his coffee I got ready and after grabbing my favorite 16-gauge shotgun from my gun safe, we headed out the door.

When I climbed into his truck I was met by a dog I’ve never seen before. Pete patted the eager puppy on the head and introduced me to his new rabbit dog, Snoopy.

“He’s a keeper,” Pete said of the year-old beagle. “He’s got the best nose of a rabbit dog that I’ve ever had.”

I directed my friend to the location of my spot and after sliding on my wool coat and blaze orange vest and cap, we headed up a quarter mile long logging road that passed within a few yards of the big swamp.

When we reached our destination, Pete took Snoopy off his leash and the hound immediately stuck his nose in the snow, his tail wagging constantly as he worked the tall dead grass and brush piles in front of us.

Snoopy covered a lot of ground during the first half hour without picking up any fresh scent. Then all of a sudden as the beagle disappeared into a small young hemlock thicket, he began to bark as if you’d just stepped on his tail.

“There he goes!” Pete shouted. “He’s on a hot trail.”

Pete walked over and joined me near the base of a huge pine tree on the edge of the dry swamp. As we listened to the beagle bark, Pete described what was going on. A few minutes later, he told me that Snoopy had sorted out the trail and was right on the snowshoe hare.

“He’s likely gonna circle him around by those little hemlock trees over to our left. Get over where you can see good and wait for him to do his job,” Pete advised.

“Where are you going to be?” I asked.

“I’m gonna wait in that logging road in case he pushes him down there,” he replied. “You’ll be able to see me there.”

The little dog’s voice echoed through the valley as he continued to follow the rabbit. We listened as the dog first headed straight away, then turned back toward us. As the dog came closer I scanned the swamp in front of me. Then something caught my eye to my right. It was the rabbit darting between the tiny pine trees. I shouldered my shotgun and when the white rabbit dashed across a wide opening not 20 yards away, I put the bead of my shotgun on its mark and took a big snowshoe hare.

Pete let Snoopy try to find another one, however, after an hour or so, we decided to call it a morning.

“Fresh snow and a good beagle are a great recipe for a super rabbit hunt,” I said as we headed to the truck.